Printing and numbering machine and interrupter therefor



JuIy 13, 1954 o. DUTRO ETAL PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE AND INTERRUPTER THEREFOR 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1950 4 .v a a c av a a o 0. DUTRO ETAL July 13, 1954 PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE AND INTERRUPTER THEREFOR Filed April 5 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR5 Oil 4L! 140074 0 04/ i, F9ii0MA/V o \I/ m S ANTOINE?! y 13, 1954 o. DUTRO ETAL 2,683,409

PRINTING AND NUMBERIVNG MACHINE AND INTERRUPTER THEREFOR Filed April 3, 1950 9 Sheets$heet 3 F IELE FIE-El WWW mm: 1/ 01/700 04W 51 mama Jul 13, 1954 o. DUTRO ETAL PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE AND INTERRUPTER THEREFOR med April 5, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 M m w W.

ITTOP/Vi/i y 13,1954 0, DUTRO ETAL ,40

PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE AND INTERRUPTER THEREFOR Filed April 5, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR5 Oil AM! 140N790 0L/A i. FiiiDM/M/ July 13, 1954 o. DUTRQ, ETAL PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE AND INTERRUPTER THEREFOR 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 3, 1950 y 13, 1954 o. DUTRO ETAL 2,683,409

PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE AND INTERRUPTER THEREFOR Filed April 3 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR5 49W!!! Mil/7P0 OA/A iI FPiiDMl/V y 1954 o. DUTRO ETAL 2,633,409

PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE AND INTERRUPTER THEREFOR Filed April 3, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 mmvron: air/u: n puma BY an i, zm-vmm 0. DUTRO El AL July 13, 1954 PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE AND, INTERRUPTER THEREFOR Filed April 3 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIE 2E INVENTOR5 ail ML! M 00790 ol/N i. FPiiflMi/V Patented July 13, 1954 PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE AND INTERRUPTER THEREFOR Orville Dutro, La Canada, Calif., and Olin E. Freedman, Chicago, IlL, assignors to The McBee Company, Athens, Ohio Application April 3, 1950, Serial No. 153,558

12 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a machine for the printing, numbering and perforating of individual sheets of paper.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide in a single machine for the print- ,ing, numbering and perforating of individual sheets in rapid succession and whereby the sheets are consecutively numbered.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single machine for the printing, numbering and perforating of successive sheets in which automatic means are provided for stopping the apparatus in the event 01' a failure of the supply of sheetsand by which such stoppage is successive throughout the various instrumentalities and particularly in such manner that the numbering mechanism will continue to function after the printing device has been stopped through failure of the supply and until such time as all the sheets already printed are satisfactorily numbered.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the class described in which perforations may be performed longitudinally and transversely of the sheets being printed and numbered.

A further object is to provide a new and improved stop mechanism for apparatus of the general character herein set forth.

Another object is to provide novel and improved perforating means for a machine generally of the character herein set forth.

A further object is to provide new and improved numbering means for an apparatus of the general class herein set forth.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved combination and inter-relation of parts for the purpose designated and whereby a rapid, eflicient and effective printing, numbering and perforating of individual sheets may be carried on economically.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal section through a portion of the machine of the present invention showing the same as being attached to a printing machine.

Fig. 2 is a continuation of Fig. 1, showing the remainder of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a gripper bar assembly forming a part of the continuous conveyor means for conveying sheets of paper through the machine.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views, taken along the lines 4-4, 55, 6-6 and 1'I, respectively, of Fig. 3, showing details of the gripper bar assembly.

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectons taken along the lines 8-8 and B9, respectively, of Fig. 2, showing details of the track means employed to guide and support the endless conveyor.

Fig. 1 0 is a view taken along the line l0-l0 of Fig. 1, showing the longitudinal perforator in elevation.

Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line Hl| of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an end view of the longitudinal perforator as seen from the right of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, bottom view, partly in section, of the longitudinal perforator as seen from beneath Fig, 11.

Fig. 14 is a view taken along the line l4l4 of Fig. 1, showing the cross perforator assembly in elevation.

Fig. 15 is a section taken along the line l5l5 of Fi 14.

Fig. 16 is a view taken along the line Iii-l6 of Fig. 2, showing the numbering assembly in elevation.

Fig. 1'7 is a section taken along the line l1-l1 of Fig. 2, showing the driving and oscillating means for the vibrator roller.

Fig. 18 is an end view of the driving and oscillating means for the vibrator roller, as seen from the right of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a section taken along the line l9-l9 of Fig. 2, showing the mounting means for the form roller.

Fig. 20 is a section taken along the line 20--20 of Fig. 2, showing the mounting means for the ductor roller.

Fig. 21 is a section taken along the line 21-2! of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary, elevational view, as seen from the works side of the machine, of the kickout or time delay mechanism.

Fig. 23 is a view similar to that of Fig. 22 but on a larger scale and showing the kickout mechanism in a different operative position.

Fig. 24 is a section taken along the line 2424 of Fig. 22, showing certain parts of the kickout mechanism.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Fig. 24 but showing the kickout pins in a different operative position.

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary view of the kickout cam drive as viewed from the gear side of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, as indicated the numeral 2 indicates a feeler mechanism in the printing press section of the present machine which is designed to actuate links 2 to rotate an arm 3 which is eccentrically arranged with respect to the axis of the blanket cylinder l4 hereinafter discussed, whereby, upon failure of sheets to be supplied to the impression cylinder l5, feeler I will operate to move the arm 3, thus bodily moving the blanket cylinder 14 out of contact with the plate cylinder 13 and the impression cylinder l5. Such feeler mechanisms and the mode of transmitting motion therefrom to links 2 form no part of the present invention and, since many and various feeler mechanisms and motion transmitting devices may be substituted for the one presently contemplated, the details of construction and operation thereof arenot here included. Suffice it therefore to point out that the operation is such that, upon failure of paper, the feeler will be actuated and through it the links 2 in such manner as to bodily move the blanket cylinder. It is to be noted that the axle of the blanket cylinder to which the arm 3 is attached is engaged by the forward end of the stop rod 216, which will be hereinafter discussed, in such manner that stoppage of the printing op eration under the control of the feeler will impart motion to the rod 218 for the purposes herein to be described.

It will further be understood that various features of the printing section of the present machine as, for instance, the sheet feeding mechanism and like instrumentalities are of generally conventional form and are therefore omitted from detailed disclosure. The printing portion of the machine is generally indicated by the numeral it and includes side plates ll, between which are mounted the plate cylinder I3, a blanket cylinder id and an impression cylinder i5, together with a transfer roller 16, the printing press thus being of the offset type.

A single sheet ll is shown in Fig. l in the act of transfer from the impression cylinder to the transfer roller to be picked up and operated upon by the numbering and perforating section generally indicated by the numeral 12. For the purpose of conveying the sheet ll through the numbering and per orating portion of the machine [2, endless conveyor means is provided in the form of a pair of endless chains it, one of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there being a chain it on each side of the machine. Each chain it is led over a driven sprocket is and an idler sprocket 2i? at the. opposite end of the machine. The driven sprockets It are fixed to the shaft 2! of the transfer roller I6. The idler sprockets 2d are mounted on a shaft 22 which is carried by brackets 23 which are adjustably mounted on the side plate 25a and 25b. The side plates 25a and 25b constitute the main frame members of the machine. The brackets 23 are clamped in adjusted position by means of cap screws 26.

The sheets H are operated upon by means described hereinafter at a perforating station A to perforate the sheets longitudinally and at a transverse perforating station B to delineate the separate items, such as checks, and to make them readily detachable. Each sheet is also operated upon at a numbering station C to number each sheet or item consecutively.

For the purpose of firmly clamping the sheets i? to the continuous conveyor means, a plurality of gripper bar assemblies are provided which are fixed to and extend between the conveyor chains [8.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 9, and more particularly to Fig. 3, each gripper bar assembly 40 com prises a pivot shaft ll which extends between and is rotatable in brackets 42 which'are mounted on the conveyor chain l8. A clamping shaft 53 forms a part of each gripper bar assembly and it extends between and is carried by the brackets 42. As will be seen, each bracket 42 is also provided with rollers 5 to ride upon a track 34 fixed to the frame of the machine (see Fig. 8). Track members 35 and 3541. (see Figs. 8 and 9) are also provided for each chain I8.

The pivot shaft 4| is provided at one end with cam follower roller 45 rotatably mounted at one end of an arm or lever 46, the other end of which is clamped to the pivot shaft 4|. The cam follower it is operated in the manner and for the purpose explained hereinafter. A plurality of gripper members 41 are provided, each being mounted upon the pivot shaft 4! and, as is best shown in Fig. 5,-each of the gripper members 41 comprises a split collar 58 which is rotatable on the pivot shaft M and is formed with a stop lug 49 and a clamping finger 56. Each finger 5B is engageable with a pin 5| carried by the clamping shaft 43 for the purpose of clamping a sheet H. The collar ii? is formed with an ear 52. A clamp 53 is provided and is clamped to the pivot shaft t i, and it is formed with a projecting lug 54 serving as a stop member to abut the stop lug 49 and to seat one end of a compression spring 55, the other end of which bears against the ear 52 on the collar 18. It will thus be apparent that the spring 55 will urge the collar 48 and the clamping finger 56 in a counter-clockwise direc tion as viewed in Fig. 5 to thereby hold the finger in firm engagement with the sheet 11.

One or more tie bars 5i are provided to maintain the pivot shaft 4! and the clamping shaft 53 in accurate alignment, each tie bar being disposed in abutting relation to a collarbl which is pinned to the pivot shaft 4!. A torsion spring 62 is provided which bears at one end against the clamping shaft 43 adjacent the tie bar 68, and at its other end it is fixed to a pin63 projecting from a collar 64 which is pinned to the pivot shaft 5!. It will be apparent that the torsion spring 62 will urge the pivot shaft ll in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, to maintain all of the clamping fingers 58 in firm engagement with the stop pins 5!.

As shown in Fig.2, a tripping cam 65 is provided to engage the cam follower rollers :15 and thereby rock each pivot shaft ii and its ciamping fingers 5! in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, thereby releasing the sheets I? and dropping them onto a stack D as illustrated. The cam 65 is formed with a rise 56, a dwell El and a recede 66 and it is adiustably mounted by means of a cap screw '68 and a slot 56. Similar cam means (not shown) are provided at the printing press to open and close the clamping fingers 5! to transfer the sheet H from the impression cylinder l5 to the transfer roller iii, this occurring at the tangent point of the said cylinder and roller.

Referring now to Figs. '1 and 10 to 13, the iongitudinal perforating station A is provided with a plurality of perforating discs it formed with end of an arm or lever 19. The other end of the arm 19 is rotatable on a collar 88, slidably but non-rotatably mounted on a shaft 8| which is mounted in and extends between the side plates of the machine. Each collar 88 is formed with a bifurcated arm 85 and an expansion spring 86 is provided which is received in a socket 81 formed in the arm 19 and bears at one end against one fork of the arm 85. The compression of spring 86 is adjusted by means of a screw 88. It will be seen that the arm 19- is yieldably urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 11, to hold the perforating disc 16 in abutting relation to the anvil roller 18, and that a certain amount of play is allowed, the degree of which is controlled by means of an adjustment screw 89 and a lock nut 98. The purpose of this play and adjustability is to provide for sheets of different thicknesses. Thus, it is important to hold the perforated discs 16 in firm abutting relation with the anvil rollers 18 and to allow a greater amount of play for thick sheets than for thin sheets.

The anvil rollers 18 are keyed to an anvil roller shaft I88, which is journalled in the side plates of the machine, and each of the anvil rollers is formed with a clearance notch IN to clear the gripper bar assemblies 48. Means are also provided for periodically pivoting the longitudinal perforating discs 16 away from the anvil roller 18 so as to hold the discs in position during the period when the notches I8I are in alignment with the discs. This means comprises a cam I82 adjustably fixed, as by means of cap screws I83 and slots I84, to the hub-of a gear 32| which is fixed to the anvil shaft I88. The cam I82 is formed with a high dwell I86 and a low dwell I81 and it actuates a cam follower roller I88 rotatably mounted at one end of lever I89, the other end of which is fixed to the pivot shaft 8I. A compression spring I I I seated at one end against the arm I89 and at the other end in a frame bracket II8 serves to maintain the cam follower roller I88 in contact with the cam I82, and its compression is adjustable by means of a cap screw H2 and a lock nut II3.

It will be seen that as the cam I82 rotates, it will periodically rock the arm I89 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 12, thus rocking the perforating discs 16 away from their corresponding anvil rollers 18, such movement being timed to align with notches I8I in the anvil roller 18.

Referring now to Figs. 14, and 16, the transverse perforating station E is provided with a transverse perforator I28 mounted on a shaft I2 I, and an anvil roller I22 mounted on trunnions I23, the shaft I2I and trunnions I23 being journalled in the side plates of the machine. The anvil roller is formed with a recess I220. to clear the gripper bar assemblies. The transverse perforator I28 comprises a longitudinally extended, slotted carrier member I24, which is keyed at I24a to collars I25, which are locked to the shaft I2I. A transverse perforator blade I26 having teeth I21 and a spacer I21a are seated in carrier member I24 and are fixed in suitably adjusted position by means of set screws I28. Clamps I29 are provided at opposite ends of the perforator I28 and are fixed to the carrier member I24 by means of cap screws I38. Cap screws I3I are also provided, as illustrated, to provide support for the transverse perforator along its length so that it will lie parallel to the axis of the shaft I2I.

For the purpose of holding the sheets I1 in firm engagement with the anvil roller I22, a triangular-shaped suction box I having suction openings I36 is provided (see Fig. 1). The suction box I35 is provided with a suction conduit I36 through which a suitable suction is maintained.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 16, the numbering station B is provided with a plurality of numbering reels I mounted on a numbering shaft I46. Each numbering reel I45 comprises a collar I41 having a clearance recess M111, and a pair of numbering machines I48 clamped to the collars .as by means of a dovetail connection I49. The

numbering machines I48 are of known construction, and they comprise tumblers I58 and a cam follower I5I, which is actuated by means of a cam I52 fixed to a cam shaft I53 which is pivotally mounted in the manner explained hereinafter. As is well known in the art, as the numbering shaft I46 rotates, first one and then the other of the cam followers I 5| of each of the numbering machines I48 contacts the cam I52, having a rise I54 and a recede I55. Each time the follower contacts the cam, the numbering machine is changed one count and thereby consecutively numbers the sheets I1, or checks or other individual items printed thereon. It will be understood, of course, that as many numbering reels I45 are mounted on the numbering shaft I46 as desired; e. g., as many as there are rows of checks printed on thesheets I1.

The numbering reels I45 cooperate with an impression cylinder I58 having trunnions I59. The impression cylinder I56 is formed with a longitudinal recess I58a and it is provided with a blanket IBI clamped at one end at I62 within the recess I58a and at its other end in a slotted shaft I63 also located in the recess I58a. Means is thus provided for tightening and firmly clamping the blanket IBI on the cylinder I58. As in the case of the transverse perforator assembly, suction means is provided in the form of a triangular-shaped suction box I64 having suction holes I64a and fitted with a suction tube I65.

For the purpose of inking the tumblers I58 of the numbering machines, an inking assembly I 18 is provided which is shown in vertical mid-section in Fig. 2. As there shown, the inking assembly I18 comprises an ink fountain HI and an ink fountain roller I12 which transfers ink from the ink fountain to a ductor roller I13. The duetor roller I13 is mounted in the manner explained hereinafter to oscillate between the ink fountain roller and a vibrator roller I14 which rotates and also oscillates axially to transfer ink to a form roller I15, which inks the tumblers I58.

The vibrator roller I14 is rotated about its longitudinal axis and is also oscillated axially by the means shown in Figs. 17 and 18. Referring now to these figures, and more particularly to Fig. 17, it will be seen that the vibrator roller I14 is formed with trunnions I16 which are journalled in bushings I11 mounted in the side plates of the machine. One of the trunnions I16, as shown in Fig. 17, is provided near its outer end with a driving gear I18 for rotating the vibrator roller and at its outermost end thus trunnion carries a guide bracket I19 which is bifurcated at its upper end to slidably receive a guide pin I88 fixed to the frame of the machine. The other or lower end of the bracket I19 is provided with a cam follower roller I8I which is received in a cam groove I82 formed in a cam I83 which is mounted on the hub I84 of a gear I85. The gear I85 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft I86. It will thus be apparent that as the gears I18 and I85 rotate, the vibrator roller I14 will rotate about its axis and will also oscillate axially.

Referring now to Figs. 20 and 21, the ductor roller I13 is formed at its ends with trunnions I99, each of which is received within a bushing I9I having a knurled head I9Ia. Each bushing I9I is mounted in one end of an arm or lever I92, the other end of which is fixed to a ductor pivot shaft I93, which is journalled in the side plates of the machine. As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 21, each bushing I9! is formed with an opening I94 and the corresponding arm I92 is formed with an opening I95. The bushing I3! is also formed with a peripheral groove I99 to receive a set screw I91 which serves to clamp the bushing to the arm I92. Means are thus provided for pivotally mounting the ductor roller I13 and for readily mounting and demounting the same; thus, by loosening the set screws I91 and rotating the bushings I9I to bring the openings I94 and I95 into alignment, the trunnions I99 and the ductor roller I13 can be readily lifted out of their mounting, and they can be as readily remounted.

The mounting of the form roller I15 and its trunnion 299 is similar, except that the pivotal mounting is only for the purpose of adjustment relatively to the numbering reels. Thus a mounting bracket 29I is fixed to a pivot screw 292 which is rotatable in the frame of the machine, and an eccentric 293 and a cap screw 294 are provided to pivot the form roller about the axis of the pivot screw 292. The form roller is clamped in adjusted position by tightening the screw 294.

A time delay or kickout mechanism is also provided for inactivating the numbering assembly in the event that a sheet I1 is missed in the printing press. In the preferred construction there is a four-sheet lag between the point of tangency of the blanket roller I l and impression roller I of the printing press (see Fig. l) and the point of tangency of the numbering assembly (see Fig. 2). It is, therefore, desirable to actuate the time delay or kickout mechanism four sheets subsequent to a gap in the printing press, thereby numbering each sheet printed in the printing press and keeping accurate count. The means for achieving this object will now be described, with particular reference to Figs. 22 to 25.

Referring now to these figures and to Fig. l, 1

a kickout shaft 2I9 is provided which is connected at one end at 2 l I to a plate arm 3 moun ed on the blanket cylinder It as hereinbefore described and is thus actuated by the feeler I.

Thus, whenever a sheet i1 is missing, the blanket 1 cylinder is moved away from the impression cyl inder so as not to ink the face thereof. When this occurs the shaft 219 is shifted to left as viewed in Figs. 1, 22 and 23.

The other end of the kickout rod 2I9 is connected at 2I3 to an arm 2 Id of a bell crank lever 2I5, which is fulcrumed on a pin 2I9 mounted in the frame of the machine. The other arm 2 I 1 of the bell crank 2I5 is formed at its outer end with a lug or cam ZIS. Normally, that is, while the blanket cylinder I2 is in contact with sheet I1, the rod 2H3 holds the lug 258 in the path of travel of arms 2E9 of latch levers 229 (as shown in Fig. 23). Each latch lever 229 is fulcrumed at 22I on a disc 222, and a biasing spring 223 is provided for each lever being pinned to the disc 222 at 229 and at 225 to the other arm 225 of the latch lever 229. Each latch lever 229 is also formed with a nose 232 which is engageable with grooves 23I formed in pins 232 which are slidably mounted in the disc 222 (see Fig. 25). Each of the pins 232 is formed with a head 232a and a compression spring 233 is provided which is compressed between the head 232a and the disc 222, so as to urge the pin 232 to the right as viewed in Fig. 25. As will be seen, a cam plate 235 is provided which is fixed to the frame of the machine, and the rounded head 232a of each pin 232 rides up a cam groove or track 234 formed in the cam plate 235 during each revolution of the disc 222. The disc 222 is fixed to a shaft 236 to which is fixed a large gear 231 meshing with a small gear 238 fixed to the numbering shaft I46. The gear ratio between the large gear 231 and the small gear 238 is one-to-four, so that the small gear 238 rotates four revolutions per revolution of the large gear 231. As illustrated, there are four of the pins 232, so that one revolution of the numbering shaft I46 rotates the disc 222 through or the distance between two pins 222.

Rotation of the shaft 239 and the disc 222 is counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 23, and it will be seen that each time a pin 232 rides up the cam track 234, it will be urged to the left or to an advanced position, as viewed in Fig. 25, so that its latch lever 229 is free to rock its nose 239 radially inwardly of the groove 23I, thereby latching the pin in the advanced position illustrated by the upper pin in Fig. 25. However, as the disc 222 continues to rotate, the lug 2I8 on bell crank lever 2I5 will engage the arm 2I3 on th latch lever 229 and will thereby trip the latch lever 229 to disengage the pin 232. The latter will, therefore, immediately move'to the right-hand or retracted position illustrated by the lower pin in Fig. 25. In this retracted position, the pin 232 will clear a lever 245 which may be considered as a stop lever. The lever 245 is urged counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 22 and 23 by a spring 245a and it is formed with an arm 245 having a notch 291 at its upper end. The lever 225 is fulcrumed on a pin 298 mounted on the frame of the machine. The other arm 229 of the lever 225 is provided at its outer end with a pin 259 which slidably receives a rod 25L The rod 25I is free to slide through the pin 259 except that such movement is yieldably opposed by compression springs 252 and clamping collars 253, as illustrated. The rod 25I is pivotally connected at 259 to a lever 255, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted at 256 on a lever 251 which is fulcrumed at 258 on the frame of the machine. A tension spring 253 connected to the lever 251 at 259 and at 255a. to the frame of the machine urges the lever 251 downwardly so that a cam follower roller 292 mounted on the pivot pin 256 is maintained in engagement with a kickout cam 253 having a high point 293a. The cam 293 is adjustably fixed to a continuously rotating cam shaft 294 which is caused to rotate continuously and at the rate of the numbering shaft M6, by means of a chain 255 which is led over a sprocket 258 fixed to the cam shaft, a sprocket 269 fixed to the transverse perforator shaft HM and a take-up sprocket 261 which is adjustably mounted on the frame of the machine (see Figs. 14 and The lever 255 is formed at its upper end with a pair of notches 21I and 212, the notch 21I being engageable with a pin 213 and the notch 212 with a pin 214, depending upon the angular position of the lever 255. The pins 213 and 214 are fixed to and project from a link 215 rotatable on a pin 215a fixed tothe frame of the machine.

The link 215 is pivotally connected at 216 to one end of a lever 211, the other end of which is fixed to a pivot shaft 218.

As is shown in Figs. 22 and 23, the pivot shaft 218 is operatively connected to the impression cylinder I59 of the numbering station C, through the medium of a lever 219 fixed to the pivot :shaft, an adjustable link 28!! pivotally connected at 28I to the lever 219 and a lever 282 pivotally connected at 283 to the link. The trunnions I59 of the impression roller I58 are eccentrically journalled in the hub of lever 282. The pivot shaft :218 is also operatively connected with the num bering cams I52 through the medium of levers 1284 which are fixed at one end to the pivot shaft 218 and at the other end to the cam shaft I53 (see Fig. 2). It will, therefore, be apparent that when the pivot shaft 218 is rotated in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 22, the impression cylinder 558 will be rocked out of [contact with the numbering reels I45 and the numbering cams I52 will be rocked out of contact with the cam followers I5I which actuate the tumblers I50. Consequently, the numbering assembly will be inactivated and procession of the numbering machine will be interrupted such that, when the pivot shaft 218 is rotated clockwise to reactivate the numbering assembly, the counting will be resumed at the next succeeding number.

It is also desirable to inactivate the inking assembly I where the numbering assembly is inactivated. This is accomplished in the following manner. As shown in Fig. 22, the ductor pivot shaft I93 is provided with a lever 29! which is fixed thereto and which has an arm 292 connected at 293 to a tension spring 294 which is connected at 295 to the frame of the machine. The lever 29I has another arm 296 on the end of which is rotatably mounted a cam follower roller 291. The spring 294 normally maintains the roller 291 in contact with a cam 298 fixed to the constantly rotating fountain roller shaft or trunnion 299. The cam 298 has a high dwell 305 which pivots the ductor roller I 13 toward the ink fountain roller I12 and away from the vibrator roller I14 (see Fig. 2). The low dwell 393 of the cam 298, of course, allows the ductor roller to pivot oppositely to contact the form roller.

During normal operation of the inking assembly,

the ductor roller I13 is, therefore, oscillated between the ink fountain roller and the form roller to transfer ink from the former to the latter.

It will be'seen that the lever 29I is formed with a third arm 391 which is engageable with a lever 308 fixed to the pivot shaft 218. It will, therefore, be apparent that when the pivot shaft 218 is rocked counter-clockwise (as shown in dash lines in Fig. 22) to inactivate the numbering assembly, the lever 308 will engage the arm 33? to rock the ductor roller I13 away from the form roller I14 and to maintain it in such position, thereby preventing excesive inking of the turnblers I50 while they are inactivated.

The various elements of the machine are driven in the following manner. Referring to Fig. 1, a driving gear 3I5 is fixed to a driving shaft 3I5 which is constantlyrotated by the printing press I0 at a constant rate relative to the speed of the press. A gear train consisting of the driving gear 3I5, gears 3I1 and 3I8 on a shaft 3I9 and a gear 323 on the longitudinal perforator shaft I00, drives the longitudinal perforator anvil rollers 18. A gear 32I on the outer, right-hand end of the longitudinal perforation shaft (see Figs. 10 and 12) drives an idler gear 322 on a stub shaft 323 which drives a gear 324 fixed to the transverse perforator shaft 528 (see Figs. 1 and 14). A mating gear 325 on one of the anvil roller trunnions I23 drives the anvil roller I22. As explained above, the kickout cam 253 is driven by chain and sprocket means including the sprocket 236 fixed to the transverse perforator shaft.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 14 and 16, the numbering reels 545 are driven by an idler gear 339 on a stub shaft 33! which meshes with the gear 324 and with a gear 332 fixed to the numbering shaft I43. A mating gear 333 fixed to a trunnion !39 of the impression cylinder I58 serves to drive the latter.

Referring now to Figs. 17 and 18, gear 335, also shown in Fig. 16, is fixed to one end of the numbering shaft I46 and drives the gear I which oscillates the vibrator roller I14 in the manner explained above. A gear 336 on the opposite end of the hub I84 drives an idler 331 which. drives a gear 338 fixed to a shaft trunnion 299 of the ink fountain roller I12. The gear 338 also meshes with the gear I18 fixed to trunnion 115 of the vibrator roller I14. The ductor roller I13 and the form roller I15 are driven by friction with their cooperable rollers, and the ductor roller !13 is oscillated by rotation of the ink fountain roller I12 in the manner described above.

Operation of the machine will be apparent from the discussion above and need not be described again in detail. The conveyor chains 52 move continuously. and the various rotating elements such as the longitudinal perforator shaft I39, the transverse perforator shaft IN and anvil roller I22, and the numbering shaft !43 and impression cylinder I58 also rotate continuously. The gripper bar assemblies 49 open and close at timed intervals to receive, grip and release the sheets I1 in the manner described above.

The time delay or kickout mechanism is inactive during normal operation, that is, while sheets I1 are proceeding through the printing press It and the numbering and perforating machine I2 at properly spaced intervals. When, however, a sheet is missed, the blanket cylinder I2 is caused to pivot out of contact with the impression cylinder I5 of the printing press, this being caused to occur in a known manner. This movement actuates the kickout rod 2 it to cause the lever 2I5 to move out of the path of latch levers 293. The next succeeding pin 232 which rides up the cam groove 234 (see Figs. 24 and 25) thereby remains latched in the advanced position. When the latched, advanced pin 232 reaches the lever 245, it will rock the lever 245 in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 23, thereby rocking the notched lever 255 from right (as shown in Fig. 22) to left (as shown in Fig. 23).

The gear ratio between gear 231 (which drives the disc 222 and the pins 232) and gear 238 (which is driven by the numbering shaft I43 and, therefore, rotates at press speed) is one-tofour. Accordingly, a rotation of the disc 222, corresponding to the distance between two adjaoent pins 232, occurs during each revolution of the numbering shaft. It will therefore be apparent that the numbering shaft I46 will rotate four times, corresponding to four sheets I1, between the time that the kickout rod 2H1 is actuated and the time that a pin 232 strikes the lever 245 and thereby actuates the kickout mechanism. This corresponds to a four-sheet la between the point of tangency of the blanket and impression cylinders l4 and [5 of the press it and the point of tangency of the numbering reels H55 and the impression roller I53. Obviously, a different gear ratio between gears 23? and 233 and a diflerent number of pins 232 will be employed in a machine having a different lag between the printing press and the numbering machine.

Assuming that only one sheet ll is missing, the levers 245 and 255 will be actuated in the manner described, and the high point 263a of cam 263 (which rotates at press speed) will ele vate the lever 255 at the proper instant to seat its notch 2H on the pin 213, thereby rocking the link 2'85 clockwise and the lever 21? counterclockwise to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 23. This will rotate the pivot shaft 233 counterclockwise, thereby rocking the impression cylinder I53 out of contact with the numbering reels I45, rocking the numbering cams I52 out of the path of travel of the cam followers I51 and holding the ductor roller I13 out of contact with the ink fountain roller H2, these operations being accomplished in the manner described above;

Still assuming that only one sheet I! is missing, only one of the pins 232 will have been latched in advanced position; before the next pin passes the lug M8 on lever 2l5, the latter will have been rocked back into the path of travel of the pins to unlatch the next pin. Hence, when the latched pin corresponding to the missing sheet has passed the lever 245, it will return to its normal position under the urging of spring 245a and on its next cycle the cam 263 will urge the lever 255 upwardly to engage its notch 212 with the pin 2" on link 215. This, of course, will act to restore the impression cylinder, the numbering cams and the ductor roller to their normal, operating positions.

Assuming now that several consecutive sheets I? are missing, the lug M8 on lever 2l5 will remain clear of the latch levers 220; consequently, the pins 232 will remain latched. The link 215 and lever 211 will remain in the up positions shown in broken lines in Fig. 23, and oscillation of the lever 255, caused by the cam 263, is timed to occur so that the lever does not engage the return pin 214. Therefore, the various operating elements controlled by the kickout mechanism will remain inactive as long as sheets I! are missing at the numbering station.

It will therefore be apparent that a machine is provided which is capable of use in conjunction with a printing press to consecutively number and to perforate sheets of paper or individual items printed thereon. This machine embodies numerous advantageous features which provide smooth, continuous and rapid operation, and it also embodies a time delay mechanism which accomplishes a no-sheet-no-number function. This time delay mechanism operates automatically in response to a condition at a remote point, to inactivate the numbering elements at precisely the right time and as long as the condition exists, and to return the numbering elements to an operative state when the condition ceases to exist.

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character set forth an impression cylinder, a bodily movable blanket cylin der, a feeler for said impressioncylinder movable in response to failure of feed of material to be printed to said impression cylinder, means operable upon such movement of the feeler to bodily move said blanket cylinder away from the impression cylinder, a numbering mechanism for numbering material fed thereto from the impression and blanket cylinders including bodily rotatable numbering devices, a bodily movable inking roller movable to and from the path of movement of said devices, a number changing means movable to and from the path of travel of said devices, and means operable upon movement of said lanket cylinder for moving said inking roller and said number changing means from the path of travel of said devices.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a printing roller and an impression roller cooperable for successively printing a series of sheets, means for rotating the printing and impression rollers, means operable by the presence or absence of a properly fed sheet to the rollers for automatically throwing the printing roller on or off the impression roller, a numbering device, means for conveying sheets from the printing roller to the numbering device, means for driving the numbering devic and conveying means in timed relation to rotation of the rollers, and means for terminating the operation of the numbering device in delayed timed relation to throwing oii of the printing roller, comprising a trip mechanism actuated by the second named means and. a delaying rotary timer, arranged to be tripped by the trip mechanism and being driven by a step-down drive from the numbering device and being operable when tripped to terminate operation of the numbering device after a period of time proportional to the step-down ratio of the step-down drive.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a printing roller and an impression roller cooperable for successively printing a series of sheets, means for rotating the printing and impression rollers, means operable by the presence or absence of a properly fed sheet to the rollers for automatically throwing the printing roller on or oif the impression roller, a numbering device, means for conveying sheets from the printing roller to the numbering device, means for driving the numbering device and conveying means in timed relation to rotation of the rollers, and means driven by the numbering device by a step-down drive operably connected to the second named means to be actuated by second-named means and operable when actuated to terminate the numbering operation after the passage of a period of time proportional to the step-down ratio of the step-down drive.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a printing roller and an impression roller cooperable for successively printing a series of sheets, means for rotating the printing and impression rollers, means operable by the presence or absence of a properly fed sheet to the rollers for automatically throwing the printing roller on or off the impression roller, a numbering device, means for conveying sheets from the printing roller to the numbering device, means for driving the numbering device and conveying means in timed relation to rotation of the rollers, and means for terminating the operation of the numbering device and subsequently initiating operation of the numbering device in delayed time relation to throwing off or on of the printing roller, comprising a trip mechanism directly actuated by the second named means and a delaying rotary timer arranged to be actuated two different ways by the trip mechanism and driven by a stepdown drive by the numbering device, and bein operable when actuated one way to terminate operation of the numbering device after the passage of a period of time proportional to the step-down ratio of the step-down drive and being operable when actuated to initiate operation of the numbering device after the passage of a period of time proportional to the step-down ratio of the step-down drive.

5. A stop mechanism comprising a feeler operable to be moved upon the absence of an article to be detected, a cam operated by the feeler upon actuation of the feeler to move from a first position to a second position, a rotary member adjacent the cam, means for rotating the rotary member, a stop lever for stopping a desired mechanism, stop-lever actuating means on the rotary member carried thereby into engagement with the cam upon each revolution of the member, to be actuated thereby to be rendered incapable of actuating the stop lever, but adapted to be disposed in a position to actuate the lever when the cam is moved to its second position out of the path of travel of said stop-lever actuating means, and means for resetting the stop-lever actuating means after said means has passed the stop lever.

6. A stop mechanism comprising a feeler operable to be moved upon the absence of an article to be detected, a cam operated by the feeler upon actuation of the feeler to move from a first position to a second position, a rotary member adjacent the cam, means for rotating the rotary member, a stop lever for stopping a desired mechanism, stop-lever actuatingmeans on the rotary member carried thereby into engagement with the cam upon each revolution of the member, to be actuated thereby to be rendered incapable of actuating the stop lever, but adapted to be disposed in a position to actuate the lever when the cam is moved to its second position out of the path of travel of said stop-lever actuating means, said lever and cam being angularly spaced around said member whereby there is a timed sequence between the operation of the cam and the actuation of the lever by said stop-lever actuating means, and means for resetting the stop-lever actuating means after said means has passed the stop lever.

'7. In a printing and numbering machine, a printing roller and a numbering device, a stop mechanism comprising a feeler for said roller adapted to be actuated upon the absence of material to be printed to be fed to said roller, a cam operated by the feeler upon actuation of the feeler to move from a first position which it normally occupies, to a second position, a rotary member adjacent the cam, means for rotating the rotary member, a stop lever for stopping the numbering device, and stop-lever actuating means on the rotary member carried thereby into engagement with the cam during each revolution of the rotary member, to be actuated thereby, to be rendered incapable of actuating the stop lever, but being disposed in a position to actuate the lever when the cam moves to its second position out of the path of travel of the means to enable said stop-lever actuating means to engage said stop lever and stop numbering device.

8. In a printing and numbering machine, a printing roller and a numbering device, a stop mechanism comprising a feeler for said roller adapted to be actuated upon the absence of material to be printed to be, fed to said roller, a cam operated by the feeler upon actuation of the feeler to move from a first position which it normally occupies, to a second position, a rotary member adjacent the cam, means for rotating the rotary member, a stop lever for stopping the numbering device, and stop-lever actuating means on the rotary member carried thereby into engagement with the cam during each revolution of the rotary member, to be actuated thereby, to be rendered incapable of actuating the stop lever, but being disposed in a position to actuate the lever when the cam moves to its said second position out of the path of travel of the means to enable said stop-lever actuating means to engage said stop lever and stop said numbering device, said lever and cam being angularly spaced around said member whereby there is a timed sequence of the operation of the cam and the actuation of the lever by said lever actuating means.

9. In a device of the character set forth, an impression cylinder, a bodily movable blanket cylinder, a feeler for said impression cylinder, movable in response to failure of feed of material to be printed to said impression cylinder, means operable in response to movement of the feeler to bodily move said blanket cylinder away from the impression cylinder, a numbering mechanism for numbering material fed to the numbering mechanism from the impression and. blanket cylinders, and including bodily rotatable numbering devices, a bodily movable inking roller, movable to and from the path of movement of said devices, number-changing means movable to and from the path of travel of said devices, and a delaying rotary timer means operable in response to movement of said blanket cylinder for moving, after a predetermined delay period, said inking roller and said numberchanging means from the path of travel of said devices.

10. In a device of the character set forth, an impression cylinder, a bodily movable blanket cylinder, a feeler for said impression cylinder, movable in response to failure of feed of material to be printed to said impression cylinder, means operable in response to movement of the feeler to bodily move said blanket cylinder away from the impression cylinder, at numbering mechanism for numbering material fed to the numbering mechanism from the impression and blanket cylinders, and including bodily rotatable numbering devices, a bodily movable inking roller, movable to and from the path of movement of said devices, number-changing means movable to and from the path of travel of said devices, a delaying rotary timer means operable in response to movement of said blanket cylinder for moving, after a predetermined delay period, said inking roller and said number-changing means from the path of travel of said devices, said rotary delaying timer means comprising a cam operated by the feeler upon actuation of the feeler, to move from a first position which it normally occupies to a second position, a rotary member adjacent the cam, means for rotating the rotary member, a stop lever, stop-lever ac tuating means on the rotary member carriddthereby into engagement with the cam during each revolution of the rotary member, to be actuated thereby to be rendered incapable of engagement with the stop lever, but being engageable with the stop lever whenever the cam is moved to its second position by operation oi the feeler, to engage said stop lever, and means operatively connecting said stop lever to said inking roller and number-changing means for moving the same upon operation of the stop lever.

11. In a device ofthe character set forth, an impression cylinder, a bodily movable blanket cylinder, a feeler for said impression cylinder, movable in response to failure of feed of material to be printed to said impression cylinder, means operable in response to movement of the feeler to bodily move said blanket cylinder away from the impression cylinder, a numbering mechanism for numbering material fed to the numbering mechanism from the impression and blanket cylinders, and including bodily rotatable numbering devices, a bodily movable inking roller, movable to and from the path of movement of said devices, number-changing means movable to and from the path of travel of said devices, a delaying rotary timer means operable in response to movement of said blanket cylinder for moving, after a predetermined delay period, said inking roller and said number-changing means from the path of travel of said devices, said rotary delaying timer means comprising a cam operated by the feeler upon actuation of the feeler, to move from a first position which it normally occupies to a second position, a rotary member adjacent the cam, means for rotating the rotary member, a stop lever, stop-lever actuating means on the rotary member carried thereby into engagement with the cam during each revolution of the rotary member, to be actuated thereby to be rendered incapable of engagement with the stop lever, but being engageable with the stop lever whenever the cam is moved to its second position by operation of the feeler, to engage said stop lever, and means operatively connecting said stop lever to said inking roller and number-changing means for moving the same upon operation of the stop lever, said lever and cam being angularly spaced around said rotary member, whereby there is a timed sequence between the operation of the cam and the action of the lever.

12. In a printing and numbering apparatus a bodily movable printing roll, a bodily movable inking roll, impression means normally in contact with said printing roll, said printing roll and impression means adapted to print on material fed thereto, numbering means normally movable for periodic contact with said inking roll and adapted to number material fed thereto from the printing roll and impression means, a feeler for said impression means movable in response to failure of feed of material to be printed to said impression means to bodily move both of said rolls, said means being operable to move said printing roll in timed sequence with respect to the movement of said inking roll and including a rotatable member, a stop lever adapted when actuated to cause bodily movement of said rolls, movable means on said member movable to and from a stop lever engaging position, a cam movable to and from the path of travel of said movable means under control of said feeler so as to dispose the movable means in its stop lever engaging position when the feeler is actuated by the failure of feed of material to said impression means, and means for advancing the numerals printed by said numbering means, said numbering means being inactivated by said stop lever when the stop lever is actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 381,105 Black Apr. 1'7, 1888 1,200,753 Pringle Oct. 10, 1916 1,920,232 Allen Aug. 1, 1933 2,083,936 Backhouse June 15, 1937 2,154,022 Backhouse -1 Apr. 11, 1939 2,206,841 Horton July 2, 1940 2,216,565 Eckhard Oct. 1, 1940 2,231,914 Huck Feb. 18, 1941 2,392,391 Kaddeland Jan. 8, 1946 2,398,832 Jirousek Apr. 23, 1946 

